Both 'Dulce et Decorum est' and 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' portray Owen's bitter angst towards the war, but do so in different ways.

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Introduction

How have soldiers been presented in any two poems of your choice? Wilfred Owen is a war poet. His poems are deeply influenced by his life experiences. The horrors of battle quickly transformed Owen and the way he thought about life. Both 'Dulce et Decorum est' and 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' portray Owen's bitter angst towards the war, but do so in different ways. In both of these poems Owen is very successful in conveying the state of the soldiers. Both these poems talk about the war and what the condition of the soldiers is. His use of language very effectively brings across the effect of these poems. "Anthem for Doomed Youth" is a wartime Sonnet. It is honoring and remembering the soldiers who died. However, it is more or less criticizing those who did not think the young, lower ranking soldiers deserved a real funeral. The conventional function for a sonnet is love, but this poem has an element of anti-love, or rather, a love that turns bad. The young male population spend time rotting in the wastes of the trenches, only to be mown down in the blink of an eye by a machine-gun. ...read more.

Middle

It creates a very piercing sound and is a harsh word. The word "wailing" gives a sad effect, unpleasantness of the situation, contrasting to the tuneful choirs that would be heard at a traditional funeral. The word 'sad' suggests that it must be a devastating and traumatic time for their relatives and friends. 'Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes,' suggests that their eyes are very meaningful as they see the deceased soldiers off to their next lives. It has an extremely sad meaning to it and the reader may reflect upon the emotional experiences of the 'victim's' family. Owen tells us that not every soldier who died in the war will be remember because there are so many who give up their lives every day. The final comparison is that of dusk to the drawing down blinds in a house in mourning. 'And each slow dusk a drawing down of blinds,' creating the image that dusk is like a blind that is being lowered. . Additionally, the meaning of the poem is that each soldier will not be remembered. Over here dusk can also symbolize the end of a life. ...read more.

Conclusion

It highlights the revolting, phlegm cough that the soldiers have as they are so critically ill. By using 'cursed', the image created is that the soldiers were struggling, desperately unhappy and exhausted. 'Men marched asleep, many had lost their boots,' this line tells us that the soldiers are so tired but still they carry on their work under extreme conditions. They haven't slept for days but still march on. 'Drunk with fatigue,' is an expression that uses a metaphor to suggest that the men are mentally vacant and are staggering along'Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!' highlights the speed of this section and that there is urgency in what is happening. The word 'ecstasy,' is ironic as it gives the impression of extreme joy, yet the opposite emotion would be expected. 'As under a green sea I saw him drowning.' This portrays the image that the soldier is really suffering and struggling to a horrendous death, that definitely isn't a 'sweet,' way to end one's life. . 'His face hanging like a devil's sick of sin,' is a simile that highlights this point. This comparison implies that his face was corrupted and baneful. . The aim of this poem was to shock the reader-to let them feel the sense of disgust and frustration felt by all the soldiers as they witness the soldier's struggle to breathe. ?? ?? ?? ?? HURSH MAHESHWARI ...read more.

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